Constructional toy



Feb. 26, 1963 R. SELWYN-SMITH 3,078,616

CONSTRUCTIONAL TOY Filed Feb. 16, 1960 FiGll 2321? M FIG.|2

3,078,616 CONSTRUQTIGNAL TGY Roy Selwyn-Emith, Twiclsenham, England,assignor to Britains Limited, London, Engiand, a British company FiledFeb. 16, 196i), Eer. No. 9,079 Claims priority, application GreatBritain Feb. 20, 195E 9 Claims. (Ci. 417) The present invention relatesto a constructional toy.

According to the invention a constructional toy comprises at least oneobject provided with a boss adapted to be removably mounted in anaperture or recess in any convenient base member, and one or more atleast partly flexible limbs joined to the boss and projecting sidewaystherefrom, whereby when the boss of the object is insorted to asufficient depth in said aperture or recess the limb or limbs of theobject engage the side wall or side walls of the aperture or recess andare bent away from the plane of the base member surrounding saidaperture or recess.

Although the constructional toy in accordance with the invention maysimply comprise one or more objects adapted to be mounted in a basemember, We prefer to provide as a part of the constructional toy, one ormore suitable base members in which the object or objects may bemounted. The base member may be a plane sheet of material in which theuser of the toy forms apertures or recesses at any desired places toreceive the object or objects. Again the base member may compriseknockout portions which, when removed, provide suitable apertures forthe reception of the object or objects. We prefer, however, to providethe base member or base members with apertures or recesses alreadyfor-med therein. Ac-.

cording to this preferred form of the invention, therefore, aconstructional toy comprises a base member having a surface with atleast one aperture or recess therein, and

at least one object removably mountable in said aperture or recess, saidobject comprising a boss capable of being inserted in said aperture orrecess and one or more at least partly flexible limbs joined to the bossand projecting sideways therefrom, whereby when the boss of theobject isinserted to a sufficient depth in said aperture or recess the limb orlimbs of the object engage the side wall or side walls of the apertureor recess and are bent away from the plane of the base membersurrounding said aperture or recess.

The boss of the object is preferably a push fit in the base memberaperture and may be of cylindrical shape, preferably right cylindrical.If desired, however, the boss may have convex or concave sides or it maybe conical or frusto-conic-al. The limb or limbs of the object mayradiate from one end of the boss or from the peripheral surface of theboss intermediate its ends. While it is only essential for each limb tobe flexible at the point where it is required to bend away from theplane of the base.

member it is most convenient to make the entire limb of flexiblematerial, for example rubber or a flexible synthetic resin material suchas polyethylene. The boss of the object may also be made of the sameflexible material and it is most convenient to mould the boss integrallywith the limb or limbs.

The simplest example of the preferred form of constructional toy inaccordance with the invention comprises a rectangular base member with asingle aperture or recess therein. This base member, which may be madeof wood, rubber or synthetic resin, may have connection means along oneor more of its side edges by means of which a number of similar basemembers may be joined together to form a composite base of any desiredshape and size. Alternatively, the base member may have any number ofapertures or recesses therein, the apertures or recesses BEE beingarranged either in a regular pattern, or irregularly, in the basemember. A base member of this nature, having a plurality of apertures orrecesses therein, may also comprise connection means along one or moreside edges thereof so that a number of base members may be connectedtogether to form a composite base. Preferably the apertures or recessesin the base members are of circular cross-section.

Elements of a model garden constructional toy in accordance with theinvention will now be described, by way of example, with reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partly insection, of an embodiment of a base member serving as the ground of themodel garden,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the base member of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an elevation of a model wall,

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the wall of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a plan of a model daffodil plant prior to planting in thegarden,

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation corresponding to FIG URE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the model daffodil plant of FIGURES 5and 6 after it has been mounted in a base member,

FIGURE 8 is an elevation of a dibber which may be employed for mountingmodel plants in the base member,

FIGURE 12 is an elevation of a model hollyhock plant FIGURES 1 and 20fthe drawing show a rectangular base member I in the form of asubstantially plane sheet having a slightly roughened upper surface 2 tosimulate. the appearance of the earth in a freshly-dug 'plot of ground.The base member 1 is moulded from polyethyl-,

one and has a thickness of 7 inch. The upper surface 2 has a width of 1/2 inches and a length of 3 inches. In the process of moulding the basemember 1 a number of circular apertures 3 are formed therein, eachaperture having a diameter of inch and passing right through the basemember from the upper surface 2 thereof to the lower surface 4 thereof.The apertures 3 are arranged.

quite irregularly in the base member, as will be seen from FIGURE 1. I

The upper surface 2 is larger than the lower surface 4 so thatprojecting edge portions 5 are formed on all sides of the base member.the mounting of other elements, such as walls, along the sides of thebase member. a model stone wall 6 moulded from polyethylene which can beremovably mounted on the base member 1. The wall 6 has a groove 7 formedtherein to receive an edge portion 5 of the base member (as shown inFIGURE 9). It will, of course, be appreciated that the base member 1 maybe detachably joined to other model garden elements, such as paths,rockeries, sheds and fences, in a similar way.

If desired, the wall 6 can be made in interlinking sec tions which areindividually mountable on the edge portions 5. These interlinkingsections may be made to simulate the appearance of the courses of abrick wall.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show a model daffodil plant moulded rounded end 9 andhas a coaxially disposed blind hole '10 These edge portions 5 serve forFIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate f in its end remote from the end 9. The boss8 has "an external diameter of inch and a length of /s inch and thediameter of the hole is ,5 inch. Moulded integrally with the boss 8 area number of leaves 11 and two st-alk's 12. These leaves and stalksradiate from the peripheral surface 'of the boss 8 close to the end ofthe latter remote from end 9. One of the stalks 12 has a fully-openflower 13 at its free end and the other stalk 12 has a bud 14 at itsfree end. I V I If the rounded end 9 of the boss 8 of the model daffodilplant is entered into one of the apertures 3 in the base member 1, andthen the boss is forced down into the aperture, the leaves 11 and.stalks 12 will be brought to bear against the upper surface 2 of thebase member. If the boss '8 is then pushed further into the aperture 3until its rounded end 9 is flush with the lower surface 4 of the basemember, the leaves and stalks will be forced upwardly so that they adoptthe positions shown in FIG- URE 7 and simulate the appearance of agrowing daffodil plant. V FIGURE 8 shows a model dibber made ofsynthetic resin materiaLfor example polyethylene, which facilitates thesetting of model plants in the base member 1. The dibber illustratedcomprises a shank 15 of circular cross-section with a handle 16 atenema. At its end remote from the handle 16 the shaft 15 has a portionof reduced diameter to form a pin 17. The diameter of the pin 17 is suchthat it is an easy push fit in the blind holes 10 of the plants it isdesired to plant in the base member. FIGURE 9 shows a model hyacinthplant, comprising a fiower 18 and leaves 19, in the process of beingplanted in the base member 1 using the dibber illustrated in FIG- URE 8.From FIGURE 9 it will be seen that the pin 17 is inserted into the blindhole in the boss 8 of the model plant after which the boss 8 is forcedby the dibber into one of the apertures 3 in the base member. When theplant has been satisfactorily set in the base member the dibber-isremoved from the boss 8 and heplant remains in the base njemberjlasshown 20 in FIGURE 9,.

Although FIGURES 7 and 9'illustrate relatively simple model plants, beappreciated that models of practically any plant may be mouldedaccording to the same principle. FIGURE 10, for 'errample shows a. modellupin plant prior to planting in the model gardemwhich plant comprisesthree flower heads 21 and a plurality of leaves 22. FIGURE 11 shows theappearance of the lupin plant of FIGURE 10 after it has been mounted inthe base member 1.

The model garden constructional toy described above with reference toFIGURES l to 9 may comprise other model garden elements which aremoulded in their final shape and which undergo no change of shape whenthey are mounted in the base member 1. Such elements include, forexample, lengths of fencing, trellis work, archways, walls, pergolas,summer houses, sheds and sundials, and are provided at their lower endswith one or more bosses adapted to be engaged in apertures in the basemember. It may also be convenient to form some of the plants accordingto this principle, especially tallplants, and trees, and FIGURE 12illustrates such a model hollyhock plant comprising a stem 23, leaves 24and flowers 25. the lower end of its stalk, the plant is provided with asolid boss 26 of circular cross-section which is a push fit in theapertures 3 of the base member.

It will,, of course, be appreciated that only a few examples of thepossible elements of a model garden constructional toy have beenillustrated in the drawing. Thus,

for example, the base members may take many different forms. apart fromthe base member illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2, there may be providedbase members which simulate the appearance of other basic features of agarden, such as paths, lawns, flower-beds and ponds. The base membersneed not be rectangular, as shown in the drawing, but can have any otherregular or irregular shape (for example, square, triangular or round).Any number of base members may be placed side by side on any suitablesupport (for example a sheet of hardboard, or a table top) to form amodel garden of any desired size and shape. If desired, some or all ofthe base members may be provided along their edges with means forconmeeting them to other base members in a readily disconnectiblemanner. For example small projections along the edge of one base membermay be a push fit in suitable recesses in an edge of another basemember. In an alternative form of construction of base member the lattercomprises a thin sheet of synthetic resin material, the edges of whichare preferably flanged so that when the sheet is placed on a table orother supporting surface the underside of the sheet is spaced a shortdistance from the supporting surface. Each base member has a number ofcircular apertures passing through the sheet, the underside of the sheetpreferably being reinforced by webs at least in the vicinity of theseapertures.

, Again, although the only form of plants illustrated in the drawing arerelatively small flowering plants, it will be appreciated that otherparts of the constructional toy may be made to simulate the appearanceof grass, bushes, flowering shrubs, weeds and vegetables. In the case ofroot-crop vegetables, such as carrots, beetroot, turnips and the like,the root of the vegetable forms the boss of the model plant.

Although the invention has been described in detail above with referenceto a model garden toy, it will be appreciated that the invention is notlimited to this particular form of constructional toy. Thus, forexample, the constructional toy may comprise the necessary parts toproduce a model jungle, forest, farm or other feature of the landscape.

1 claim:

1. A construction toy, comprising a base member having a surface with anaperture formed therein, s'aid aperture having a side wall definedwithin said base member; and an object adapted to be removably mountedin said aperture, said object comprising a boss portion having a firstend and adapted to fit in said aperture with said first end insertedinto said aperture at least a predetermined distance from said, surfaceand at least one projecting portion substantially flexibly joined tosaid boss portion at a second end of the said boss portion opposite thefirst end thereof and at a distance from said first end which is lessthan said predetermined distance and projecting sideways therefrom in asubstantially single plane so that when said boss portion of said objectis inserted into said aperture of said base meniber with the first endof said boss portion spaced at least said predetermined distancefromsaid surface thereof said projecting portion of said object abuts saidside wall in the region where said projecting portion is flexibly joinedto said bossportion so as to be bent out of 'said substantially singleplane and out of the plane of said surface of said base member,projecting outwardly at an angle thereto.

2. A construction toy, comprising a base member having a surface with aplurality of apertures formed therein, each of said apertures having aside wall defined within said base member; and an object adapted to beremovably mounted in any of said apertures, said object comprisinga bossportion having a first endand adapted to fit in any of said apertureswith said first end inserted into said aperture at least a predetermineddistance from said surface and at least one projecting portionsubstantially flexibly joined to said boss portion at a second end ofthe said boss portion opposite the first end thereof and at a distancefrom said first end which is less than said predetermined distance andprojecting sideways therefrom in a substantially single plane so thatwhen said boss portion of said-object is inserted into any of-saidapertures ofsaid base member with the first end of said boss portionspaced at least said predetermined distance from said surface thereofsaid projecting portion of said object abuts said side wall in theregion where said projecting portion is flexibly joined to said bossportion so as to be bent out of said substantially single plane and outof the plane of said surface of said base member, projecting outwardlyat an angle thereto,

3. A construction toy, comprising a base member having a projecting edgeportion and having a surface with a plurality of apertures formedtherein, each of said apertures having a side wall defined within saidbase member; and an object adapted to be removably mounted in any ofsaid apertures, said object comprising a boss portion having a first endand adapted to fit in any of said apertures with said first end insertedinto said aperture at least a predetermined distance from said surfaceand at least one projecting portion substantially flexibly joined tosaid boss portion at a second end of said boss portion opposite thefirst end thereof and at a distance from said first end which is lessthan a predetermined distance from said surface and projecting sidewaystherefrom in a substantially single plane so that when said boss portionof said object is inserted into any of said apertures of said basemember with the first end of said boss portion spaced at least saidpredetermined distance from said surface thereof said projecting portionof said object abuts said side wall in the region where said projectingportion is flexibly joined to said boss portion so as to be bent out ofsaid substantially single plane and out of the plane of said surface ofsaid base member, projecting outwardly at an angle thereto.

. 4. A constructiontoy, comprising a base member having a surface withan aperture formed therein, said aperture having a side wall definedwithin said base member; and a model plant adapted to be removablymounted in said aperture, said model plant comprising a boss portionhaving a first end and adapted to fit in said aperture with said firstend inserted into said aperture at least a prede termined distance fromsaid surface and a plurality of projecting portions substantiallyflexibly joined to said boss portion at a second end of said bossportion opposite the first end thereof and at a distance from said firstend which is less than said predetermined distance and projectingsideways therefrom in a substantially single plane so that when saidboss portion of said model plant is inserted into said aperture of saidbase member with the first end of said boss portion spaced at least saidpredetermined distance from said surface thereof said projectingportions of said model plant abut said side wall in the region wheresaid projecting portions are flexibly joined to said boss portion so asto be bent out of the plane of said substantially single plane and outof said surface of said base member, each projecting outwardly at anangle thereto, said projecting portions of said model plant being formedin the configurations of stems, leaves and flowers of a plant.

5. A construction toy, comprising a base member having a surface with aplurality of substantially circular apertures formed therein, each ofsaid apertures having a side wall defined within said base member; and amodel plant adapted to be removably mounted in any of said apertures,said model plant comprising a boss portion of substantially cylindricalconfiguration having a first end and to fit in any of said apertureswith said first end inserted into said aperture at least a predetermineddistance from said surface and a plurality of projecting portionssubstantially flexibly joined to said boss portion at a second end ofthe said boss portion opposite the first end thereof and at a distancefrom said first end which is less than said predetermined distance andprojecting at substantially right angles from the axis of the said bossportion in a substantially single plane so that when said boss portionof said model plant is inserted into any of said apertures of said basemember with the first end of said boss portions spaced at least saidpredetermined distance from said surface thereof said projectingportions of said model plant abut said side wall in the region wheresaid 6 projecting portions are flexibly joined to said boss portion soas to be bent out of said substantially single plane and out of theplane of said surface of said base member, each projecting outwardly atan angle thereto, said projecting portions of said model plant beingformed in the configurations of stems, leaves and flowers of a plant.

6. A construction toy, comprising a base member having a surface with anaperture formed therein, said aperture having a side wall defined withinsaid base member; and a model plant adapted to be removably mounted insaid aperture, said model plant comprising a boss portion having lowerand upper ends and a hole in the upper end thereof adapted toaccommodate a tool for inserting said boss portion into said aperture,said boss portion being adapted to fit in said aperture with said lowerend inserted into said aperture at least a predetermined distance fromsaid surface, and a plurality of projecting portions substantiallyflexibly joined to said boss portion at the upper end of said bossportion and at a distance from said lower end which is less than saidpredetermined distance and projecting sideways therefrom in asubstantially single plane so that when said boss portion of said modelplant is inserted into said aperture of said base member with the lowerend of said boss portion spaced at least said predetermined distancefrom said surface thereof said projecting portions of said model plantabut said side Wall in the region where said projecting portions areflexibly joined to said boss portion so as to be bent out of saidsubstantially single plane and out of the plane of said surface of saidbase member, each projecting outwardly at an angle thereto, saidprojecting portions of said model plant being formed in theconfigurations of stems, leaves and flowers of a plant.

7. A construction toy, comprising a base member having a surface with aplurality of substantially circular apertures formed therein, each ofsaid apertures having a side wall defined within said base member; and amodel plant of molded synthetic resin material adapted to be removablymounted in any of said apertures, said model plant comprising a bossportion of substantially cylindrical configuration having a first endand adapted to fit in any of said apertures with said first end insertedinto said aperture at least a predetermined distance from said surfaceand a plurality of projecting portions substantially flexibly joined tosaid boss portion at a second end of the said boss portion opposite thefirst end thereof and at a distance from said first end which is lessthan said predetermined distance and projecting at substantially rightangles from the axis of the said boss portion in a substantially singleplane so that when said boss portion of said model plant is insertedinto any of said apertures of said base member with the first end ofsaid boss portion spaced at least a predetermined distance from saidsurface thereof said projecting portions of said model plant abut saidside wall in the region where said projecting portions are flexiblyjoined to said boss portion so as to be bent out of said substantiallysingle plane and out of the plane of said surface of said base member,each projecting outwardly at an angle thereto, said projecting portionsof said model plant being formed in the configurations of stems, leavesand flowers of a plant.

8. A construction toy, comprising a base member having a surface with aplurality of substantially circular apertures formed therein, each ofsaid apertures having a side wall defined Within said base member; and amodel plant of molded synthetic resin material adapted to be removablymounted in any of said apertures, said model plant comprising a bossportion of substantially cylindrical configuration having a first endand adapted to fit in any of said apertures with said first end insertedinto said aperture at least a predetermined distance from said surfaceand a plurality of projecting portions substantially flexibly joined tosaid boss portion at a second end of the said boss portion opposite thefirst end thereof and at a distance from said first end which is lessthan said prede- 7 termined distance and projecting at Substantiallyright angles from the axis of the said boss portion in a substantiallysingle plane so that when said boss portion of said model plant isinserted into any of said apertures of said base member with the firstend of said boss portion spaced at least said predetermined distancefrom said surface thereof said projecting portions of said model plantabut said side wall in the region where said projecting portions areflexibly joined to said boss portion so as to be bent out of saidsubstantially single plane and out of the plane of said surface of saidbase member, each projecting outwardly at an angle thereto, saidprojecting portions of said model plant being formed in theconfigurations of stems, leaves and flowers of a plant.

9. A construction toy, comprising, a base member having a surface with aplurality of substantially circular apertures formed therein, each ofsaid apertures having a side wall defined within said base member; and amodel plant of molded synthetic resin material adapted to be removablymounted in any of said apertures, said model plant comprising a bossportion of substantially cylindrical configuration having lower andupper ends and a hole in the upper end thereof adapted to accommodate atool for inserting said has portion into said aperture, said bossportion being adapted to fit in any of said apertures with said lowerend inserted into said aperture 'at least a predetermined distance fromsaid surface, and a plurality of projecting portions substantiallyflexibly joined to said boss portion at the upper end of said bossportion and at a distance from said lower end which is less than saidpredetermined distance and projecting at substantially right angles fromthe axis of the said boss portion in a substantially single plane sothat when said boss portion of said model plant is inserted into any ofsaid apertures of said base member with the lower end of said bo'ssportion spaced at least said predetermined distance from said surfacethereof said projecting portions of said model plant abut said side wallin the region where said projecting portions are flexibly joined to saidboss portion so as to be bent out of said substantially single plane andout of the plane of said surface of said base member, each projectingoutwardly at an angle thereto, said projecting portions of said modelplant being formed in the configurations of stems, leaves and flowers ofa plant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS558,733 Lathrop Apr. 21, 1896 2,062,276 Burton Nov. 24, 1936 2,715,288Quidor Aug. 16, 1955 2,808,681 Arenstein Oct. 8, 71957 FOREIGN PATENTS509,697 rance A1524, 1920 426,068 Great Britain Mar. '27, 1935 857,739Frances, .Apr. 22, 1949 595,576 Great Britain Dec. 9, 1947 439,635 ItalySept. 25, 1948

1. A CONSTRUCTION TOY, COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING A SURFACE WITH ANAPERTURE FORMED THEREIN, SAID APERTURE HAVING A SIDE WALL DEFINED WITHINSAID BASE MEMBER; AND AN OBJECT ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAIDAPERTURE, SAID OBJECT COMPRISING A BOSS PORTION HAVING A FIRST END ANDADAPTED TO FIT IN SAID APERTURE WITH SAID FIRST END INSERTED INTO SAIDAPERTURE AT LEAST A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID SURFACE AND ATLEAST ONE PROJECTING PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY FLEXIBLY JOINED TO SAID BOSSPORTION AT A SECOND END OF THE SAID BOSS PORTION OPPOSITE THE FIRST ENDTHEREOF AND AT A DISTANCE FROM SAID FIRST END WHICH IS LESS THAN SAIDPREDETERMINED DISTANCE AND PROJECTING SIDEWAYS THEREFROM IN ASUBSTANTIALLY SINGLE PLANE SO THAT WHEN SAID BOSS PORTION OF SAID OBJECTIS INSERTED INTO SAID APERTURE OF SAID BASE MEMBER WITH THE FIRST END OFSAID BOSS PORTION SPACED AT LEAST SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAIDSURFACE THEREOF SAID PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID OBJECT ABUTS SAID SIDEWALL IN THE REGION WHERE SAID PROJECTING PORTION IS FLEXIBLY JOINED TOSAID BOSS PORTION SO AS TO BE BENT OUT OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY SINGLEPLANE AND OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID SURFACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER,PROJECTING OUTWARDLY AT AN ANGLE THERETO.